The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Soccer Opens With Thursday Night Exhibition
8/25/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Aug. 25, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The 2005 season gets underway for Mike Getman and the UAB men's soccer team Thursday night at West Campus Field as the Blazers host the University of Mobile in the first of two preseason exhibition contests. UAB is coming off a 12-7 campaign in 2004 in which it was C-USA runners-up in both the league's regular season and postseason tournament.
The Blazers return all but two starters from the 2004 team and boast one of the top recruiting classes in the nation, according to College Soccer News. Senior midfielder Leandro de Oliveira heads the list of returnees for Getman's club. He was named to the 2005 Missouri Athletic Club Hermann Trophy watch list on Wednesday, meaning he is one of the 25 preseason candidates for college soccer's most outstanding player.
De Oliveira isn't the only weapon returning for UAB. The fellow senior trio of forward Maurice Hughes, midfielder Jason McLaughlin and goalkeeper A.J. Robles return, as do defensive midfielder Sandy Gbandi and defender Joe Klosterman, both All-Conference USA performers for the Blazers in 2004.
Mobile was 12-6-1 a year ago and made an appearance in the NAIA National Tournament in Olathe, Kan. Freshman forward Bjorn Asbjornson was the Rams' leading scorer last season with 10 goals on the campaign.
This will be the second straight year the Blazers and Rams meet in exhibition play. UAB downed Mobile, 3-1, on Aug. 25, 2004. Jerson Monteiro, Sandy Gbandi and Leandro de Oliveira all scored for UAB. Asbjornson scored the goal for Mobile.
After Thursday night's opener, the Blazers ready for a 7 p.m. CT Saturday night tilt with ACC power Clemson at West Campus Field in their final tune-up before beginning the 2005 regular season Labor Day weekend. Clemson is led by Hermann Trophy watch list member Nathan Sturgis.
Admission to both exhibition matches is free.
UAB Men's Soccer Game Notes in PDF Format
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